A scathing letter published by Guyana Times on November 14, 2026 defends Attorney General Anil Nandlall against a public critique by Kendesi Mohammed, arguing that the attack collapsed on basic questions of law and fact. The letter, addressed to the editor, dismantles Mohammed's claims point by point and defends the government's handling of oil contracts, extradition proceedings, and constitutional reform.
The exchange matters beyond the letters page. It touches the Stabroek Block contract, the extradition case of Azruddin Mohamed, and the constitutional reform process now underway, all issues with direct consequences for Guyanese taxpayers and investors.
An Attorney General's Record Against a Critic's Claims
The author frames the dispute as a mismatch. Nandlall, the letter notes, is a three-term Attorney General, a Senior Counsel, and a member of Guyana's legal team before the International Court of Justice. Before the Caribbean Court of Justice, he has argued landmark constitutional cases for more than two decades and earned explicit judicial praise for his advocacy.
Mohammed's letter, by contrast, is described as factually and structurally flawed. The author points out that Mohammed defined the Attorney General's mandate correctly in one paragraph, representing the state in litigation, then contradicted himself pages later by attacking Nandlall for doing exactly that.
The Extradition of Azruddin Mohamed and Sovereign Jurisdiction
Mohammed accused the Attorney General of wasting public money by prosecuting the extradition proceedings against businessman Azruddin Mohamed rather than leaving the matter to American lawyers. The letter calls this an abysmal ignorance of sovereign jurisdiction.
Foreign prosecutors have no standing to appear before Guyanese courts. Under bilateral treaties and the Fugitive Offenders Act, Guyana is legally bound to adjudicate extradition requests domestically. And because Mohamed himself launched constitutional litigation against the State, Article 112 of the Constitution obliges the Attorney General to defend the nation.
The Stabroek Block Contract and Why Renegotiation Is Not Simple
Mohammed also demanded stricter terms before Guyana signs any future petroleum agreements and attacked Nandlall for opposing domestic challenges to the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement. The letter answers with the argument investors and taxpayers should hear clearly.
Article 32 of the contract is a stability clause that prohibits unilateral alteration. Breaching it, the author warns, could expose Guyana to catastrophic multi-billion-dollar international arbitration awards. Sovereignty does not mean the freedom to break signed contracts; it means the discipline to negotiate well the first time.
Mohammed also ignored, according to the letter, that the administration already enacted the Petroleum Activities Act 2023 and a revamped Model Production Sharing Agreement. These impose higher royalties, corporate taxes, and strict ring-fencing on all subsequent oil blocks. The legal framework he demands already exists.
Constitutional Reform Is Already Underway
Mohammed asked where progress lay on constitutional and legislative modernisation. The letter replies that the answer was already public. Nandlall piloted the Constitution Reform Commission Act, and the twenty-member Constitutional Reform Commission is soliciting public submissions ahead of its December 31, 2026 deadline.
On the legislative side, the letter credits Nandlall with the Data Protection Act, the Arbitration Act, and the Bail Act, a body of modernisation work that Mohammed apparently never read about.
Why the Quality of Public Debate Matters
Guyana is at a stage where the quality of its public argument carries real economic weight. The country's territorial dispute with Venezuela is an existential national issue that transcends party politics, as Guyana Chronicle argued in September when it criticised opposition boycotts of national engagements. Empty chairs and empty critiques both weaken the country's hand.
Foreign investors watching Guyana do not parse letters to the editor for nuance. They read the headlines, and headlines built on legal illiteracy can do measurable damage to a small economy seeking capital. Defending the record with facts, contracts, and statutes is not partisanship. It is self-preservation.
The letter closes with a suggestion that Kendesi Mohammed request a meeting with the Attorney General. Constructive civic critique, the author writes, requires basic intellectual diligence, and a briefing might cure the legal illiteracy on display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Guyana renegotiate the 2016 Stabroek Block contract?
Not unilaterally. Article 32 of the contract is a stability clause that prohibits one-sided changes, and breaching it could trigger multi-billion-dollar international arbitration against Guyana, according to the Guyana Times letter.
What new oil laws has Guyana passed?
The Petroleum Activities Act 2023 and a revamped Model Production Sharing Agreement now impose higher royalties, corporate taxes, and ring-fencing rules on all oil blocks contracted after the 2016 Stabroek agreement.
What is the status of constitutional reform in Guyana?
The twenty-member Constitutional Reform Commission is actively soliciting public submissions ahead of a December 31, 2026 deadline, under legislation piloted by Attorney General Anil Nandlall.